Images of an Era: Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ

Images of an Era:

1816: Crops failed throughout New England in this “year without a summer.” Joseph Smith Sr. left Vermont and settled his family in Palmyra, New York.

Early spring 1820: Joseph Smith received First Vision in a grove near his home, which was located at the Palmyra/Manchester border.

21–22 Sept. 1823: Joseph Smith visited by angel Moroni and told of the Book of Mormon record. Joseph viewed gold plates hidden in a stone box in the Hill Cumorah. Annual visits to the site for instruction by Moroni followed.

Dec. 1827: Joseph and Emma Smith moved to Harmony, Pennsylvania, where the gold plates could be translated safely.

June–July 1828: The 116 manuscript pages were lost.

7 Apr. 1829: Joseph Smith resumed translation of the record with Oliver Cowdery as scribe.

15 May 1829: John the Baptist conferred Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery near Harmony, Pennsylvania.

Sometime in late May 1829: Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James, and John, near the Susquehanna River between Harmony, Pennsylvania, and Colesville, New York.

June 1829: Translation of Book of Mormon completed and copyright applied for (June 11). The Three Witnesses shown the plates and other Nephite artifacts by Moroni in Fayette, New York. The Eight Witnesses shown the gold plates by Joseph Smith in Manchester, New York.

26 Mar. 1830: First copies of Book of Mormon available in Palmyra, New York.

6 Apr. 1830: The “Church of Christ” organized, Fayette, New York, first elders ordained, and “Articles and Covenants of the Church” revealed (D&C 20, 22).

June 1830: “Visions of Moses” received as part of Bible translation (now chapter 1 of the book of Moses, Pearl of Great Price).

9 June 1830: First conference of the Church, Fayette, New York.

Dec. 1830: Sidney Rigdon (above) called to assist Joseph Smith as scribe in Bible translation (D&C 35:20). First revelation on gathering given; command for Church to move to Ohio (D&C 37).

20–25 Mar. 1839: While still imprisoned in Liberty Jail, Joseph Smith wrote epistle to Saints containing revelations that would become D&C 121, 122, 123.

April 1839: Joseph Smith and others escape from unjust imprisonment in Missouri and take their journey to Illinois, where the Prophet goes first to Quincy, then to the Saints’ new place of settlement in Commerce, later renamed Nauvoo.

Nov. 1839: First issue of Times and Seasons published, Commerce, Illinois.

May 1840: First issue of Millennial Star published, Manchester, England.

[illustrations] Above: In the Sacred Grove, young Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. (Sacred Grove, by Al Rounds.) Left: Given authority through John the Baptist, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery baptized each other. (Joseph Smith Baptizes Oliver Cowdery, by Del Parson.) Right: The Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God. (Joseph Smith Translating the Book of Mormon, by Del Parson.) Far right: Moroni showed the plates to David Whitmer, Joseph Smith, and Oliver Cowdery. Martin Harris later received the same experience. (Painting by William Maughan.)

[illustration] Left and below left: The Book of Mormon was published by E. B. Grandin at Palmyra in 1830. (Painting by Gary E. Smith.)

[illustration] Right: On 6 April 1830 in Fayette, New York, the Church was organized by divine direction through the Prophet Joseph Smith. He received a revelation on Church organization and government that day. (Joseph Smith Presides Over the Organization of the Church, by William Whitaker.)

[photos] Above: In the mid-1830s, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Church’s first hymnbook were published. Elder Heber C. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles led the first overseas mission. Right: The first temple of this dispensation was dedicated at Kirtland, Ohio.

[illustration] Revelations came also to the Prophet Joseph Smith while in Missouri’s Liberty Jail. (Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, by Greg K. Olsen, courtesy of Mill Pond Press Inc.)

[illustrations] Above: In 1841 Palestine was dedicated for the return of Judah’s scattered remnants by Elder Orson Hyde of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (Orson Hyde Dedicates Palestine for the Return of the Jews, by Clark Kelley Price.) Right: The Relief Society was organized in 1842. (Organization of Relief Society, 17 March 1842, by Dale Kilbourn.)

[illustration] Left: Members from the British Isles embark in Liverpool for the voyage to America, then Nauvoo, to gather with the Saints. (Embarkation of the Saints at Liverpool in 1851, by Ken Baxter.)